Bloody Benue robbery: Leader of Sengev gang killed, 3 arrested

MAKURDI—Less than 72 hours after an eight months old baby, her sibling, mother and 10 others were killed in a bloody robbery attack in Sengev near Gbishe, Katsina/Ala Local Government Area of Benue State, operatives of the state’s Joint Security Task Force have killed two members of the robbery gang, including its leader, Atondo Bya.

 Three others, suspected to be members of the gang, were also arrested by the Task Force for questioning, while a Honda car with number plates GBG315AA was recovered from the gang. Parading the suspects, yesterday, at the Command’s Headquarters in Makurdi, Benue State Police Commissioner, Mr. Bashir Makama, said: “Atondo Bya, who was killed in the operation, actually led the robbery onslaught on Sengev where an eight months old baby, including his eight-year-old sibling, mother and 10 others were killed. “He is an associate and accomplice of the wanted militia leader, Terwase Agwaza, also known as Gana. We found on him military camouflage, charms, different car number plates, and dangerous weapons. “What you are seeing is a continuation of our war against criminality and we are taking the fight to the criminals because the number of deaths and pains these gangs have inflicted on the people is unimaginable. “So far, we are taking our time in our search for them, including Gana, because we are avoiding the loss of innocent live in the operation. But we will surely smoke them out.” Power generator ‘stolen’ Also paraded was one Patrick Uchenna, who was nabbed in Makurdi by security operatives for allegedly attempting to convey two stolen Lister power generators from Makurdi to Jos. According to the Police Commissioner, “he claimed he and the driver of the J5 vehicle were called in from Mararaba in Nasarawa State to Makurdi by one Prince to convey the generators to Jos. “They could neither produce the said Prince nor the receipts with which the generators were bought. We are also investigating their activities.”